Our New Skin Care Packaging

“Papa's got a brand new bag!”

We are thrilled to announce our latest innovative change in our skin care packaging, The Rice Paper bag. We fell in love with these chic little gems and after some design experimentation it did not take long for us to discover the profound impact they could have for a minimalist approach to packaging and lowering the overall carbon footprint. .Another benefit is that I can now offer some products in a bulk bag that I could not do before. Passing a huge savings to you.

Change requires adjustments

We do admit, it is an adjustment but we think the planet is worth it for us to adjust our ways of interacting with our skin care packaging. So does the Très Spa tribe that have begun to transition with us. You can still use a jar or a dish of your choice, simply scoop out the product and put it in whatever container works best for you personally. We have tested the bag in the shower and find it stands up just fine. The label may wash away a bit so there is that. We tested pouring and scooping and digging in with our hands. *All of them work but the favorite one for me is to get my hands in it.

Sometimes you have to weigh the compromise

The bag we now use to package our skin care is a combination of rice paper and a poly sleeve. Plastic in any form is not a perfect solution from an eco-biodegradable position, but it is one that provides a safe clean protection for Très Spa to be able to deliver high quality natural skin care to you. Since it is not susceptible to biological degradation, the product inside can remain safe from micro organisms that would otherwise attack it.

Of course, in a picturesque world you would swing by my place peddling your bicycle and toting your mason jar to fill up from my stainless steel pot. Lovely to think about but not very realistic in a scalable way at the moment. *Yes I have done this very thing as a special request for very select customers.

Package Face Off

Here is a 10 point side by side comparison of the new bag verses the old jar for skin care packaging. It's some of the things we consider before making a change. While it's not the bicycle and the mason jar, it is a big step forward. Feel free to comment below to let us know what you think.Did we miss any important points? Which do you think is better?

Rice Bag vs. Plastic Jar

It seals water tight to protect the product and the zipper allows for resealing once opened.

Bags can be heat sealed after filling so they are more resistant to tampering.

The bags are FDA approved food grade

The bags are fairly transparent allowing you to see the product and how much is left so you can re-order in time

The bags make it very easy to mix the product up just by giving it a little squeeze. *n fact, this is very relaxing and therapeutic. Like one of those Worry stones and stress balls, Try it and you will see what I mean.

The bags do not block UV rays so the shelf life may be shortened if the package is exposed to sun light on a regular basis. Since our products are created in small batches and we practice JIT manufacturing, shelf life has never been an issue. We don't make things to sit in a warehouse on a shelf for years or to sit in a window display..

The bags require less space and are collapsable as the product is used up.

Only two materials used, Rice Paper and a Poly (PET LLDPE) sleeve barrier.

The bag is a single use item and not really recommended for reuse. I suppose you could if you really wanted to but who would do that?

Both are classed as recyclable and the downcycled material can be used for a variety of items from lower grade materials (food grade plastics post recycle could be used for cosmetic packaging, house cleaner bottles, or even poly fill for winter jackets for example). You can learn more about PET HERE

The jars seal as well and as long as you had the cap it is very easy to reseal after opening.

Jars can be sealed but the liner does not always work. You can use a heat shrink plastic band to protect from tampering, but then that is more plastic required.

The jars are only cosmetic grade but the plastic is used in food grade packaging as well.

The jars block your view so you have to either open the jar or make a guess as to how much product you have left.

The jars still need to be mixed, but you have to dig in to get to the bottom.

The jars do block some UV rays so the shelf life is extended. Since our products are created in small batches and we practice JIT manufacturing, shelf life has never been an issue. We don't make things to sit in a warehouse on a shelf for years.

The jars never change shape.

The jars are made of thick walled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), polypropylene lids with liners which are three-ply and have low-density foam cores between two solid layers of low-density polyethylene,

The Jar can be cleaned out and reused at the consumer end. But how many people do that? For health and safety, I cannot take them back.

Both are classed as recyclable and the downcycled material can be used for a variety of items from lower grade materials (food grade plastics post recycle could be used for cosmetic packaging, house cleaner bottles, or even poly fill for winter jackets for example). You can learn more about PET HERE

Why Do I Need To Mix It Up Before I Use It?

Mix it up or shake it up, chances are you might need to give your Très Spa product a stir before using. Not all things, but some things like the body scrubs and the aromatic mists may separate when they are resting on the shelf. No need to panic. It's perfectly normal.

Squeeze To Mix

Sometimes, like with the body scrubs and the organic face cleanser, you need to mix it up. That is because the products do not contain any artificial stabilizers or suspenders to “hold it all together”. They come together like a handshake. When they are resting the heavier items may fall to the bottom while the oil rises to the top.

We do use palm wax to help with suspension as we do in a couple of products like the organic lip balms and the organic butter sticks, (we are Vegan Friendly so no Beeswax for us). The Organic Palm wax in the body scrub is there to help support the suspension of the ingredients but it has a second purpose and that is to act as an emollient for your skin. The purpose of a scrub is to open up and flush out the skin pores while encouraging cell regeneration.

Our purely natural products have a combination of plant oils and botanical ingredients. They don't all weigh the same. So, when the oil gets warm, heavier items may fall to the bottom and lighter oils lift to the top. No biggie, you just stir it up a little. (it's like using fresh handmade Almond milk or Cashew milk in your coffee or tea, without the guar gum, you gotta' stir it up a little.)

Shake It Up

If you have an Aromatic Mist from Très Spa, you're going to want to shake it up before you spray it. Oil and water don't mix. That is just a physical fact that will never change. Some things can be used to help the two get along and seem to mix better but that is as far as well can go naturally. Certainly there are synthetic chemicals that can help force the situation, but that is not us. We use only plant based ingredients and we tend to take a more gentle approach to nature. Trying to force things is just…. well… not natural.

So keep it natural, simple, elegant, and eco chic. Shake that bottle and give that bag a little squeeze when needed.

Introducing Très Spa Luxury Gift Collections

For those times that you really want to pamper someone with only the best nature has to offer, the Très Spa Luxury Skin Care Collections. Our chic full size skin care collections, or as we call them, Spa in A Box, has everything you need to create those spa inspired experiences in the comfort of your own home. These full sized collections are designed to indulge the receiver with many applications. More than just a taste or a sample, these are banquets for the skin! And just to make sure the recipient is fully pampered, we included some of our favorite accessories to use along the spa journey.

Where Eco – Conscious meets Eco – Chic

If it is one thing we love here at Très Spa studio's it's a challenge. Not your ordinary challenge, we relish the design challenges for skin care. From the individual isolated ingredients, the way they are combined, the container they are held in, to the package they arrive to your door.End to end, our focus is on uniqueness and excellence in purely natural Luxury Skin Care.

We put attentive thought into each and every step. No decision is made lightly and all of them are made with our core guiding beliefs and practices at heart.

Historically we have pretty much been an “al la carte company”. With the exception of some of our petite sets, we have been a “you pick and we'll box” company for all of the full size products. Then a special request came in from one of our long term clients. They wanted to offer their customers something unique and definitely missing from their shelves. A high quality personal care line that was unadulterated, pure and natural, in pre-assembled gift sets.Thus the Très Spa Luxury Skin Care Spa in a Box was created.

Solution: A Spa in a Box

We're pretty pleased with the results of these luxury gifts! Rather than use over sized packaging with custom molded inserts and single use boxes like most companies do, we used a transparent minimalist approach.

No frills or fillers

Instead of using over sized single purposed packaging, we used transparent food grade boxes. These boxes can be used for many storage purposes and they fold nice and flat for easy storage. Like I said the packaging is food grade recyclable and reusable. Since our custom inserts are not glued in, you can easily remove them making the box completely transparent again. This allows the box to have a life way beyond a single use. Heck, you could even re-use it as a gift box for a whole new gift!

.Bigger is Better.Better for you and the planet

Rather than use the customary half sized products, we used full size products to fill the box in. This means we don't need to use other fillers to keep the products secure. As you can see, the boxes are stuffed with full size Très Spa skin care and other very useful accessories. The gift collections literaly have everything you need, just add water and you are set to go!

It's a Wrap!

That brings us back to the last part of the gift box. These are all custom printed on demand by us on 100% recycled paper. The Spa in a Box gift sets all have the step by step instructions on how to have a spa like experience at home or anywhere you may be. The Trio gift box is lined with a picture of some of my favorite places along the California Coast and can be either framed or pinned up on a wall.

That picture is from a November hike I took with friends along the coast just south of Carmel, California.

Organic Powders by Très Spa Unique & Exquisite

Of course we're going to say that our Organic Dusting Powders are exceptional, but they really are exceptional in their category and here's why.

Like any producer, the uniqueness is in the formulation and blend of the final product. At Très Spa we take great pride in carefully selecting each one of the ingredients. We don't rush into a final product without taking the time to do the homework first. We carefully evaluate how each piece will shape the whole formula, how it will affect your skin care, and how it will impact the planet (we are an Eco-Friendly and Cruelty Free company).

You Need To Have Your Own Vision

Most people take a look at someone else who is doing “it”–whatever it is you want to achieve. We don't for several reasons.

Just because someone else is doing it doesn't mean they have it right or have the best way.

If we follow someone else then why the heck are we even bothering being in business?!

We'll just end up a carbon copy or a cheap imitation of someone else's creation.

At Très Spa we march to our own drummer. After all, you don't pay us to be like everyone else, you pay us to be exceptional and unique and yes, different.

Change Your Perspective

When we approach a formulation, like our organic powders, we look at it from the desired result. Why and how would a person want to use a powder? Is organic powder important vs non-organic powder? Then we look at the long list of plants out there that we use to feed ourselves. You see, we think of skin care as a topical application of nourishment. You are feeding your skin just like you would feed your internal organs, your body. Naturally, you feed your external protective cover, your largest organ of all, your skin! Call it simple, but last time we checked the best nourishment was from food we grow not from a synthesized compound created in a lab or from things buried deep in the earth's core. Don't get me started on gold flecks in skin care! Seriously people!

Once we get a short list of possible options, we start to play and experiment with each one individually and then as a blended unit. You see, not every plant powder is the same. They all have unique strengths and behaviors just like all of us. When we blend them, we want to play to each one's strength to create a formula that is exceptional as a whole. There is an abundance of possibilities! Even though we may finalize a formula for the moment, we may go back and modify it down the road. One should never be afraid to adjust along the journey.

Test and Retest and Then Test Some More

When the final list of ingredients is finalized and the blend is perfected, it is time to apply environmental testing. This is where the rubber hits the road. You actually have to use it in real-life scenarios and gather feedback on various performance matrixes and observable data. For some, we may set up lab tests like the Three Powder Experiment. For what we cannot do in the lab or with the assistance of our immediate circle of friends, we extend the invitation out to the Très Spa extended circle of friends, the Très Spa customers. They are, by far, the most exceptional group of people and they are the best testers ever. They are never afraid to give candid feedback and are generous with their personal thoughts. In fact, there are many occasions these experts have helped shape our products!

Exceptional People Make Exceptional Products

We can confidently state that Très Spa Organic Dusting Powders are magnificently exceptional, because Très Spa customers are truly magnificently exceptional and they helped shape them for you. Before we started selling the Organic Powder, we had lots of candid input from people just like you.

Often times, when we want to create a new item or design a new synergy blend, we like to get input from others. No one lives on an island of isolation so we reach out to our community. We usually send out a special request for volunteers in our subscriber community. They get free stuff and we get great feedback. We use blind surveys so it is unbiased and people can share candidly. It works great for everyone. They get their “hands in” on the design from ingredients to scent and even to the packaging!

We hope you enjoy using them as much as we enjoyed making them for you!

The Très Spa blog may contain articles on science, or medical topics; however, no warranty is made that any of the articles are accurate. There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on science or medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. The overwhelming majority of such articles are written, in part or in whole, by nonprofessionals. Even if a statement made about science or medicine is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms.

The information provided at Très Spa is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). None of the individual contributors, nor anyone else connected to Très Spa can take any responsibility for the results or consequences of any attempt to use or adopt any of the information presented on this web site.

Nothing on Très Spa's site or included as part of any project or product of Très Spa should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.

What is the best way to keep cool and dry when the heat goes up?

Keep cool and dry even when the heat is up. We all feel a little heat from time to time. Either it is the climate outside or the pressures inside. Something happens and our temp goes up. Given the right conditions, so does our sweat. It's time like this it may seem impossible to keep coll and dry. It can really become a problem. Sweating can leave you feeling sticky, slippery, and downright uncomfortable. Add any kind of rubbing action under these conditions and that friction is probably going to lead to some serious irritation. The best intervention to avoid this situation is to have advanced preparation.

Sweating is a natural thing and, for most of us, you should not try to stop the body from doing what it does naturally (dangers of antiperspirants). There are those who suffer from Hyperhidrosis, which is severe and may require medical intervention to help normalize sweat gland production. But how can the rest of us keep cool and dry naturally when the heat gets turned up? Depending on what's getting you hot, try these techniques to help bring you cool comfort when you need it the most.

The top technique to keep cool and dry in any situation

I would never encourage the use of antiperspirants on a regular basis. But they are designed to stop you from sweating and as far as I know there is nothing in nature that can do that. The number one option for a person who wants to be in harmony with nature is to use nature to help ease the effects. Protect yourself with a natural hydrophobic layer of protection. The one thing I recommend to anyone and everyone, no matter what the circumstances is so simple even a baby understands: Powder up before you leave your home. No matter what the weather or what the life circumstance, you will never regret powdering up before you power up for your day.It is the best intervention you can do to keep cool and dry.

It wont stop you from sweating but it will help to create a barrier so you can dry faster and feel cooler. You can read more about what powders are best and how they work here.

For stress induced situations:

Practice: If you know you are going to be in a stressful situation ahead of time, like a presentation in front of an audience, rehearse as many times as you can beforehand. It's not enough to read a presentation, you need to stand up and speak the words even if no one is in the room with you. Something triggers in your mind as you hear the words you speak.

Meditation: If you adopt a regular habit of meditation, then you will be able to center yourself no matter what the turmoil is around you. A practice of only 10 minutes a day can have a profound impact on your overall sense of well-being and your ability to handle stressful situations.

Watch the caffeine: I'm not one to say walk away from coffee; I love my coffee. However, if you are under stress, reducing your coffee consumption might prove helpful.

Introduce Herbal Teas: Among your daily beverage choices, add an herbal tea that has botanicals that help to relieve stress and anxiety. Look for organic herbal blends that have chamomile, peppermint, lemon balm, passion flower (my personal favorite), and, of course, green tea. All of these herbs have relaxing qualities to them.

Carry a high quality Aromatic Mist with you: Aromatics can alter your state of mind and the general energy around you. Ever notice how no one can ever frown when they smell a strong citrus? It's more than just a coincidence that Lavender causes so many to relax. Not to sound like I'm bragging, but we happen to have quite a collection of different blends at Tres Spa. Check out our Aromatic Mist category.

If the climate has you in a sweat

Sometimes it's just plain hot out and this causes you to sweat more. What can do you do to naturally keep cool and dry? Sure, it's easy to keep cool if you're in front of a fan or tucked inside in the air-conditioning. But that's not always possible and not a natural way to control your body's temperature. So how do you beat the heat?

Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated is important any time of year but even more important in hot conditions. You sweat more so you need to replenish those fluids. Sweat is your friend. In fact, it is your natural air conditioner. Sweat on the surface of your skin catches a breeze. The water interacts with the air to give your skin a cooling feeling. I know it can be hard to get enough water when you don't like the taste of it, so try some life hacks to help you out.

Dress for the occasion: Drape yourself in lose fitting flowing clothes that breathe well. Loose clothes can help create a natural air-conditioning effect because they ride over the surface of the skin and don't cling too tight.

Mist yourself: It may sound like you're tossing gasoline to the fire, but you aren't. I know you want to dry out, but sometimes the fastest way to dry out is to cool off first so use a high quality mist to spritz over you. That moisture will catch even the slightest of breezes and cool you off. Another positive side effect is you will smell really, really, really good and so will your surroundings. Especially if you are using one or the Très Spa multi-purpose skin safe Aromatic Mists.

Keep a cloth handy: Running a cloth under cool water and applying it to your body's heat points will instantly cool the body. Most common points are the back of the neck, the inside of the wrists, the inside of your elbow, behind your knees, on your ankles, and on the tops of your feet, to name a few.

Take your time: When the heat is on, this is the perfect time for you to slow it down a bit. Take your time and try not to be in such a rush. Channel your inner sloth and make each movement purposeful and slow.

The Très Spa blog may contain articles on science, or medical topics; however, no warranty is made that any of the articles are accurate.There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on science or medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. The overwhelming majority of such articles are written, in part or in whole, by nonprofessionals. Even if a statement made about science or medicine is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms.

The information provided at Très Spa is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). None of the individual contributors, nor anyone else connected to Très Spa can take any responsibility for the results or consequences of any attempt to use or adopt any of the information presented on this web site.

Nothing on Très Spa's site or included as part of any project or product of Très Spa, should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.